Though the height of the pandemic may have passed, Covid-19 continues to be a consideration in everyday life. And that's especially true for those who are traveling or booking a trip.
Getting sick on the road or having to cancel your vacation because of illness is a common concern. However, travel insurance can help you ensure you're covered. Many travel insurance policies consider Covid like they would any other illness, but not all. So, you'll still want to carefully read any travel insurance policy you're considering to make sure Covid isn't excluded. For the most comprehensive coverage, you'll want to opt for a plan with cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.
To find the travel insurance policies best suited to handle Covid-related issues, CNBC Select looked at Covid coverage and limits for medical coverage and evacuation, among other factors. We found four standouts for the best Covid travel insurance policies. (See our methodology to learn more about how we created this list.)
Best for high coverage limits
- Up to $3,000 for lost baggage with AXA’s Platinum plan
- Up to $1,500 per person for missed connections on cruises/tours
- Pre-existing conditions waiver available for Gold and Platinum plans
- No add-ons available with Silver plan.
- Cancel for Any Reason coverage only available with Platinum plan
Who's this for? AXA Travel Insurance is ideal for those seeking high coverage limits for emergency accident and sickness medical expenses, as well as emergency evacuations.
Standout benefits: AXA's silver plan offers up to $25,000 of medical emergency accident and illness coverage and $100,000 of emergency evacuation coverage, higher than many of the base travel plans we compared. The company's gold and platinum plans offer higher limits, up to $250,000 of medical emergency coverage and $1 million of evacuation coverage. When comparing AXA policies, make sure you have the "Epidemic Coverage Endorsement" included.
Best for cruises
Nationwide Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
Single- and multi-trip plans and cruise insurance, plus add-ons like CFAR and rental car coverage.
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Add-on to Prime plan that reimburses 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 21 days of booking (Not available in New York or Washington state)
Pre-existing condition waiver
Available with single-trip plan purchased within 20 days of initial trip deposit (14 days for cruise insurance)
Pros
- Cruise insurance available
- Frequent travelers can save with annual plan
- 10-day review period (not available in New York or Washington)
Cons
- Limited number of add-ons available
- Baggage delay reimbursement requires a 12-hour delay
- Severe weather coverage requires a 24-hour delay
Who's this for? Nationwide's travel insurance offers higher limits than many other base plans we reviewed, with limits of $75,000 for medical coverage and $250,000 of emergency evacuation coverage in its essential plan.
Standout benefits: Nationwide offers several plans tailored to different needs, including a cruise-specific travel insurance plan and an annual plan for frequent travelers.
Best for luxury travel
- Speedy claims resolution including same-day compensation
- All plans include rental car collision coverage
- Pre-existing coverage waiver available with all plan
- CFAR policy only reimburses 50% of prepaid trip costs
- No add-ons available
Who's this for? Those considering expensive travel can find sufficient coverage with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection that meets a variety of needs, including coverage for Covid if needed.
Standout benefits: Berkshire Hathaway's top-tier LuxuryCare Travel Insurance includes coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost for trip interruption coverage and $100,000 of medical expense coverage.
Best for cancel for any reason coverage
- OneTrip Prime and Premier plans cover one child under 17 for free
- CFAR coverage reimburses 80% of nonrefundable trip costs.
- Pre-existing condition waiver included with all plans
- Rates are higher than the national average
- Limited options for adventure travel
- CFAR plan must be purchased through a travel agent
- No discounts
Who's this for? For those wanting the option to cancel for any reason (CFAR), Allianz Travel Insurance plans offer lots of different options, including CFAR add-ons.
Standout benefits: Allianz's Cancel Anytime upgrade can reimburse up to 80% of non-refundable trip costs for almost any unforeseeable reason not already covered by the policy. That's higher than most other CFAR coverage, which generally covers 70% to 75% of non-refundable trip costs. It's only available on the brand's OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier policies.
More on our top Covid travel insurance companies
AXA Travel Insurance
AXA offers three travel insurance plans starting at $16. Its silver plan, the lowest tier of coverage, offers high limits for emergency medical expenses at $25,000 and up to 100% of trip costs for trip interruption coverage. Many policies now include epidemic-related covered reasons.
CFAR coverage available?
Yes, up to 75% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs
24/7 assistance?
Yes
Nationwide Travel Insurance
Nationwide offers travel insurance plans for single trips, multi-trips and cruise-specific plans. The company has an A+ rating for financial strength from rating agency AM Best, and its most basic single trip and cruise plans offer a high limit of $75,000 of medical coverage.
CFAR coverage available?
Yes, up to 75% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs
24/7 assistance?
Yes
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Berkshire Hathaway's travel coverage can be tailored towards the specific needs of cruise and luxury travelers, with options for higher coverage limits for medical coverage and trip interruption benefits.
CFAR coverage available?
Yes, up to 50% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs
24/7 assistance?
Yes
Allianz Travel Insurance
Allianz Travel Insurance stands out for those who want cancel for any reason coverage, as the percentage reimbursed is higher than other travel insurance providers we reviewed. For traveling families, the company's OneTrip Prime plan also offers free coverage for children ages 17 and younger with a parent's coverage.
CFAR coverage available?
Yes, up to 80% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs through the optional Cancel Anytime upgrade
24/7 assistance?
Yes
FAQs
Does travel insurance cover Covid?
Travel insurance generally covers Covid-19 as it would any other illness. While fear of catching an illness isn't a cause for cancellation under most policies without a cancel for any reason (CFAR) add-on, being diagnosed with Covid-19 right before or during your trip could qualify you for cancellation, interruption or travel delay coverage.
As with any insurance coverage you're considering, read your travel insurance policy carefully to understand what it does and doesn't cover.
What does travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance can cover your trip expenses if you're unable to go due to an unforeseen, covered reason or face an illness or injury during your trip. It can also help in the event that you lose your bags or face delays in your itinerary.
Bottom line
If you find yourself coming down with Covid before or during a trip, travel insurance could help you recoup funds from a lost trip or cover medical bills while you're abroad. Look for a travel insurance plan with strong medical coverage and flexible cancellation options.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products. To research the best travel insurance companies, we compiled over 100 data points on more than a dozen travel insurance companies. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel insurance.
Our methodology
To determine the best Covid-19 travel insurance companies, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of travel insurance companies and compared them based on their Covid policies, and medical and evacuation coverage limits.
While narrowing down the best travel insurance companies, we focused on Covid-19 coverage, availability of cancel for any reason coverage, and the limits of emergency medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation coverage. We also considered factors like whether 24-hour assistance was available, Better Business Bureau ratings, and financial strength ratings from AM Best.
Note that the premiums and policy structures advertised for travel insurance companies are subject to fluctuate in accordance with the company's policies.
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